Chapter 88: Beyond the Golden Gate
The staircase took ten minutes to climb.
That surprised Tianyu.
From below, it had looked grand but straightforward: a monumental ascent of white stone threaded with golden lines, leading from the forest toward the hidden heart of the Heavenly Flame Sect. Yet after the first hundred steps, Tianyu realized the staircase itself was part of the sect's cultivation system.
The Ki concentration increased as he climbed.
Not suddenly.
Gradually.
Each level contained slightly more spiritual energy than the one below it, enough that Tianyu barely noticed the change at first. Then, several minutes into the climb, he inhaled and felt the difference immediately. Ki entered his body with almost absurd ease. His meridians filled faster. His bloodline stirred. Even Bingya's fur began to shine faintly as frost gathered naturally around his paws.
Then came the pressure.
It pressed down from above like an invisible weight.
Tianyu took another step.
The pressure increased.
He immediately understood the principle.
"This is cultivation training."
Bingya glanced toward him.
Obviously.
"No, look."
Tianyu stopped for half a breath and deliberately circulated his Ki.
The abundant energy from the surroundings poured inward.
The staircase's pressure compressed it.
Absorption.
Compression.
Refinement.
The steps were effectively forcing a cultivator to practice merely by climbing them.
Tianyu grinned.
"This place is ridiculous."
You like it.
"I love it."
He continued upward.
The higher he climbed, the more effort each step required. His muscles tightened beneath the pressure. His cultivation instinctively circulated faster to compensate. The Ki he absorbed was pushed through his meridians more densely than usual, and the constant burden forced his body to adapt.
For Tianyu, it was uncomfortable.
For someone weak, it would be impossible.
He looked down once.
The forest had already disappeared beneath clouds.
"So even the entrance rejects people who cannot handle the environment."
Bingya huffed.
They are an Ancient Sect.
That explanation apparently covered everything.
Tianyu could not entirely disagree.
By the time they reached the top, sweat had formed along his forehead despite the cold surrounding Bingya. His breathing had become heavier, but his eyes were bright.
Then he stepped through the final layer of mist.
And stopped.
Everything he had seen before suddenly seemed small.
The Heavenly Flame Sect stretched across a world hidden among mountains.
White dominated the architecture.
White stone palaces rose from enormous peaks, their roofs and pillars accented with gold and deep red. Great stairways crossed mountainsides. Golden bridges stretched across canyons. Towers pierced clouds. Floating platforms drifted slowly between peaks while disciples moved across them as casually as townspeople crossing a marketplace.
Red banners bearing the sect's golden flame emblem moved in the wind.
Streams of fire flowed through channels cut into the mountains like glowing rivers.
Some were ordinary flame.
Some blue.
Some white.
Some black.
Others carried colors Tianyu could not even name.
Far above, cultivators flew between mountains.
Some rode swords.
Some rode beasts.
Some simply walked through the air.
Tianyu had seen Spirit Transformation cultivators fly before.
He had never seen so many that it ceased being noteworthy.
Then his gaze reached the center of the sect.
Everything else disappeared from his attention.
A tree grew there.
Calling it enormous felt insulting.
Its trunk rose from a mountain range at the heart of the Heavenly Flame Sect and climbed nearly twenty kilometers into the heavens. The base alone was broader than sections of Mistforge. Its bark shone with lines of gold and crimson light, while branches spread outward over entire valleys.
The upper canopy pierced beyond the clouds.
From this distance, Tianyu could see tiny sparks moving around it.
Then one spark spread its wings.
His breath stopped.
A phoenix.
It flew around the ancient tree trailing a river of crimson-gold flame.
Higher still, another bird crossed the sky.
Black and gold.
Three-legged.
Even from kilometers away, Tianyu could feel the heat.
"Golden Crow…"
The words came out quietly.
Bingya had also stopped.
Neither had seen creatures like these outside illustrations and bloodline records.
The tree was known throughout the continent.
The Heavenly Sunfire Tree.
One of the greatest treasures controlled by the Heavenly Flame Sect.
Its leaves naturally gathered fire and solar Ki. Its flowers were useful for medicine. Its bark could be refined into high-grade spiritual materials.
But the fruits were what made it legendary.
Some strengthened fire affinity.
Some purified bloodlines.
Some increased cultivation.
Some allowed fire beasts to advance their species.
And around the tree lived generations of flame-aligned creatures attracted by its power.
Phoenix descendants.
Golden Crow descendants.
Vermilion Birds.
Solar cranes.
Fire serpents large enough to coil around entire branches.
The Heavenly Flame Sect had built part of its identity around that tree.
Tianyu finally understood why.
A massive shadow passed overhead.
He looked up.
A crimson-scaled beast with four wings flew past carrying three disciples on its back.
Foundation Realm.
The beast.
All three disciples too.
Tianyu watched them disappear.
Another group walked past the gate.
Foundation.
Foundation.
Foundation.
Then someone wearing simple white robes crossed the courtyard ahead.
The pressure surrounding him was much greater.
Spirit Transformation.
Tianyu's expression gradually changed.
In Mistforge, Foundation Establishment cultivators were respected experts.
A Spirit Transformation cultivator could rule a city.
Here, he had been inside the sect for less than a minute and had already seen more high-level cultivators than he normally encountered in months.
Bingya spoke through their connection.
We are small.
Tianyu smiled.
"Good."
He had not traveled a month to remain impressive.
The gate itself was enormous.
White pillars rose on either side, wrapped in golden dragon carvings. Between them burned a curtain of transparent flame that did not produce heat.
Two men stood before it.
Tianyu recognized immediately that they were guards.
That was the only ordinary thing about them.
Both were Spirit Transformation cultivators.
The first appeared to be in his early thirties. He wore loose white-and-red robes rather than armor and carried no visible weapon. His black hair was tied carelessly behind his head, and several small flames drifted lazily around one hand while he read from a narrow book held in the other.
The flames changed shape without him looking.
Bird.
Flower.
Sword.
Dragon.
Then back into a simple flame.
His name was Senior Guardian Luo Wenyan.
Despite guarding one of the most important entrances in the sect, he carried himself more like a scholar who had unfortunately been interrupted during an interesting chapter.
Beside him stood Senior Guardian Jian Yuheng.
He was almost the opposite.
A long sword rested against his back and an elegant bow hung across one shoulder. His dark red robes had been fitted tightly enough not to interfere with movement. His expression remained cold and unreadable, and Tianyu had the immediate impression that this was a man who could stand in exactly the same position for three days without becoming uncomfortable.
Luo Wenyan looked up from his book.
"Shen Tianyu?"
"Yes."
"Bingya?"
The Frost Wolf raised his head.
Luo smiled faintly.
"Good. Paperwork agrees with reality. Always reassuring."
Jian Yuheng held out one hand.
"Identification."
Tianyu presented the enrollment token and documentation from the Cangyun Kingdom.
Jian inspected them.
Then looked directly into Tianyu's eyes.
For one uncomfortable moment, Tianyu felt as though the man's gaze passed through skin, flesh and bone.
The sensation disappeared.
"Identity confirmed."
Luo Wenyan closed his book.
"Welcome to the Heavenly Flame Sect."
Tianyu bowed.
"Thank you, Seniors."
Luo raised one eyebrow.
"Polite."
Jian said nothing.
Luo looked toward him.
"You could try encouraging the new disciple."
"He passed the gate."
"That was encouragement?"
"Yes."
Luo sighed.
Tianyu decided he liked the scholar already.
Jian touched a small formation plate beside the gate.
A golden symbol appeared above it.
"Disciple Council has been notified."
Tianyu frowned slightly.
"Someone is coming for me?"
"Yes."
"Can I not go to the administration office myself?"
Luo chuckled.
"You can."
He gestured toward the enormous sect behind them.
"Do you know where it is?"
Tianyu looked at the hundreds of mountains.
"No."
"Then technically you cannot."
Fair enough.
The senior disciple arrived several minutes later.
He came running.
Not flying.
That immediately caught Tianyu's attention.
The young man looked to be somewhere in his early twenties. He wore the standard white robes of the Heavenly Flame Sect, though a thin gold-red sash crossed his chest bearing the insignia of the Disciple Council.
His cultivation made Tianyu stare.
Eighth Stage Foundation Establishment.
The senior noticed.
"You're Shen Tianyu?"
Tianyu nodded.
"I am Guo Ziming, assistant officer of the Disciple Council's New Disciple Division."
He bowed.
Tianyu returned it.
"Thank you for coming, Senior Guo."
"This is my assigned duty."
His tone was straightforward without being unfriendly.
"Follow me. Your bonded companion can come."
Bingya joined Tianyu.
They began walking.
Tianyu quickly discovered that the Heavenly Flame Sect was even larger from inside.
The paths were enormous.
Some roads had been built specifically for giant beasts. Formation gates stood at intersections, transporting disciples to distant mountains. Shops, training halls, libraries, restaurants and residences occupied entire districts.
It resembled a kingdom more than a sect.
Guo Ziming walked quickly.
Tianyu matched him easily.
"Senior Guo."
"Yes?"
"Were the people at the forest outpost disciples?"
Guo glanced toward him.
"Yes."
Tianyu blinked.
"The guards?"
"Yes."
"They were Foundation cultivators."
"That is normal."
Normal.
Tianyu filed away the word.
Guo continued.
"Gate duty, outpost work, beast feeding, library assistance, formation maintenance, patrol work, herb gathering, teaching junior disciples—these are all sect duties."
"Students do all of that?"
"Disciples."
Guo corrected him automatically.
Tianyu nodded.
"What about teachers?"
"They have duties too."
"Elders?"
"Yes."
"Peak Masters?"
"Yes."
Tianyu looked surprised.
Guo noticed.
"The Heavenly Flame Sect does not support freeloaders."
There was no humor in his voice.
"The sect gives cultivation grounds, teachers, protection, resources, libraries, techniques, medicine and access to inheritances that entire kingdoms would fight over."
He glanced toward Tianyu.
"In return, everyone contributes."
"That makes sense."
"Junior disciples receive simpler duties. Senior disciples receive more important ones. Teachers instruct classes, oversee missions and conduct research. Elders manage territory, protect sect interests, maintain formations, lead expeditions and train disciples."
"What do you do?"
"Currently?"
"Yes."
Guo gestured toward Tianyu.
"This."
Tianyu smiled.
Guo did not.
"I am serious."
"So am I."
Guo finally showed the smallest hint of amusement.
"The Disciple Council manages student affairs. Complaints. Discipline. Assignments. Dormitory disputes. Mission distribution. Disciple societies/associations Competitions. New arrivals."
"That sounds unpleasant."
"It is."
"Why do it?"
"Contribution points."
That answer was immediate.
"And experience. I intend to apply for a managerial position after reaching Spirit Transformation."
Tianyu nodded.
Everyone here seemed to have a direction.
He liked that.
The administration district occupied one of the lower mountains.
Even the lower mountain was several kilometers tall.
A formation platform carried them most of the way.
Tianyu stepped onto the circular array with Bingya.
Golden fire surrounded them.
The world shifted.
Then they stood somewhere else.
Tianyu looked back.
"That would have been useful during the journey."
Guo Ziming almost smiled.
"Become rich."
"I am rich."
"Become sect rich."
Tianyu considered that.
Apparently there were levels to wealth.
The administration building itself stretched across a large terrace overlooking several mountains. Hundreds of disciples moved through its doors. Some were registering missions. Others collected identification documents. Several stood before counters arguing about housing.
Guo led Tianyu through a shorter queue reserved for new disciples.
A middle-aged administrator looked at Tianyu's documents.
"Shen Tianyu. Cangyun Kingdom. Mistforge Territory."
"Yes."
"Heavenly Frost Wolf bloodline."
"Yes."
The administrator looked toward Bingya.
"Bonded companion?"
"Since childhood."
Bingya looked offended by the clinical description.
The administrator stamped several documents.
A small card appeared from a formation beside him.
White.
Gold border.
Red flame emblem.
Tianyu picked it up.
His name appeared across the surface.
SHEN TIANYU
Beneath it were several categories.
Status: Outer Sect Disciple
Residence: Ember Residence District, House 847
Contribution Points: 0
Tianyu stared at the final number.
Guo looked over his shoulder.
"Everyone begins at zero."
"I wasn't complaining."
"You looked offended."
"I was evaluating."
"Of course."
The administrator continued.
"Your card acts as identification, room access, contribution account, library record, mission record and sect authorization."
"What happens if I lose it?"
"You pay for another."
"How much?"
The administrator told him.
Tianyu immediately placed the card securely inside his storage ring.
Guo approved.
The administrator slid another document across the counter.
"You have been assigned a standard residence."
Tianyu read the information.
"How large?"
"Bedroom. Training room. Washroom. Small courtyard. Bonded beast area."
Tianyu nodded.
That was sufficient.
"If you require larger quarters, earn them."
"How?"
"Contribution rank. Combat rank. Special achievement. Research contribution. Teacher recommendation."
Tianyu smiled.
So even housing was competitive.
Good.
The administrator looked at the next sheet.
"You still have two entrance evaluations."
Tianyu's expression sharpened.
"I thought the forest was the entrance test."
"It was the mental evaluation."
The administrator raised two fingers.
"You still require a Skill Evaluation and a Comprehension Evaluation."
Tianyu leaned closer.
"What does the skill evaluation cover?"
"Your actual capabilities."
"Combat?"
"Primarily. But not exclusively."
The administrator began listing categories.
"Combat instincts. Technique quality. Movement. offense. Defense. ranged capability. battlefield adaptation. weapon proficiency. bonded-beast coordination. elemental control. situational judgment."
Tianyu immediately thought of his father's criticism.
Long-range techniques.
Defense.
Stealth.
Illusions.
Traps.
His expression became more serious.
"And the comprehension test?"
"That determines how well you understand what you use."
Tianyu frowned.
"Explain."
Guo answered this time.
"If you use frost, do you merely know how to release cold Ki, or do you understand the principles behind freezing?"
"If you use a movement technique, do you understand force, momentum and Ki distribution?"
"If you possess a bloodline transformation, do you understand what changes inside your body?"
"If you are shown an unfamiliar technique, how much can you understand by observation?"
Tianyu's interest immediately increased.
"So it isn't memorization."
"No."
Guo shook his head.
"The sect can give books to anyone."
"The question is what your mind does with them."
The administrator nodded.
"These evaluations also help determine your educational path."
"Teachers?"
"Yes."
"Your results will be examined by the appropriate departments. If you possess exceptional movement talent, a movement specialist may be recommended. If your elemental control is poor, you may receive remedial instruction. If you show unusual comprehension in a specific principle, an elder may take interest."
Tianyu understood.
The tests were not merely rankings.
They were diagnosis.
"What happens afterward?"
"You begin classes and duties."
The administrator tapped the papers.
"And every three months…"
The card in Tianyu's hand suddenly displayed a new section.
Quarterly Evaluation: Pending
"…you are evaluated again."
Tianyu raised an eyebrow.
"Every three months?"
"Yes."
"What happens if I don't improve?"
The administrator looked at him.
"That depends on why."
"If you are working hard but progressing slowly, the sect adjusts your instruction."
"If your cultivation path has a flaw, we help identify it."
"If you lack resources, you are directed toward missions that provide what you need."
His expression hardened slightly.
"If you are lazy…"
Tianyu waited.
"…the sect also adjusts your instruction."
Guo Ziming looked away.
Tianyu noticed.
"What does that mean?"
"You'll discover if you become lazy."
"I don't plan to."
"Then you don't need to know."
Tianyu looked down at his identity card.
Mental evaluation.
Skill evaluation.
Comprehension evaluation.
Quarterly progress reviews.
Work duties.
Contribution points.
Teachers assigned according to actual weaknesses.
This was nothing like Mistforge.
There, Tianyu had been the Young Lord.
His father arranged his training.
Experts came to him.
His talent was known before he entered a room.
Here, the Heavenly Flame Sect did not care what anyone claimed about him.
It wanted evidence.
Tianyu liked that more than he expected.
He slid the identity card away.
"When is the Skill Evaluation?"
Guo Ziming answered.
"Tomorrow morning."
Tianyu smiled.
Bingya saw the expression.
You're excited.
"Obviously."
Guo glanced toward him.
"Do not underestimate it."
"I won't."
"You will be evaluated by people who have seen thousands of talented disciples."
Tianyu's smile widened.
"Even better."
Guo stared at him for a moment.
Then sighed.
"I already understand why I was warned about you."
Tianyu blinked.
"Who warned you?"
"The registration document."
"What did it say?"
Guo continued walking.
Tianyu followed.
"Senior Guo."
No answer.
"Senior Guo."
Bingya walked behind them.
For the first time since entering the Heavenly Flame Sect, the Frost Wolf seemed amused.
Above them, the vast branches of the Heavenly Sunfire Tree spread across the sky, phoenix cries echoing between mountains.
Tomorrow, Tianyu would discover exactly how much his strength meant here.